Xmas cheer expected in Orchard Rd

Xmas cheer expected in Orchard Rd

CHRISTMAS ON A GREAT STREET: Orchard Road shoppers can look forward to folklore-inspired Christmas decorations. Festive lights will be switched on from 7pm tomorrow. (PHOTOS: ORCHARD ROAD BUSINESS ASSOCIATION)

Despite warnings of an impending economic slowdown, retailers in Orchard Road are still expecting business to remain brisk during the year-end festive season this year.

This is especially because the unemployment rate here remains low and there is still a high level of job security, said Mrs May Sng, chairman of the Orchard Road Business Association (Orba).

Speaking at a media conference on the upcoming annual Orchard Road Christmas light-up yesterday, she noted that Singaporeans were prepared to spend "in the spirit of the festive season", even during a recession in 2008 and 2009.

"(Retailers) are still very optimistic. The overall month-on-month spending level of shoppers in Orchard Road so far has been generally comfortable," she said.

"We certainly don't expect sales to be lower than last year's, but by how much it will grow is what we can't tell."

Some 6.57 million people visited both Orchard Road and Marina Bay during the Christmas season last year, an increase from 6.06 million in 2010.

And despite heavy rains, sales for Orchard Road merchants last December rose by between 10 per cent and 12 per cent from 2010, based on a survey of 12 major retailers conducted by Orba last year.

The festive lights in Orchard Road this year will be switched on from 7pm tomorrow, with President Tony Tan as the guest of honour at the official light-up ceremony held at ION Orchard.

Shoppers this year can look forward to folklore-inspired Christmas decorations, with nutcracker soldiers and toy trains alongside classic festive ornaments, such as doves, hearts and snowflakes.

Giant ornaments will also hang overhead from the many trees that line Orchard Road.

These ornaments will be accompanied by some 1,390 strings of 3m-long Christmas baubles.

Set to the theme of Christmas On A Great Street, this year's light-up and decorations will divide the 2.2km shopping strip into three zones, each with its own motif: Tree For Joy at the Tanglin zone, Heart For Love at the Orchard zone and Dove For Peace at the Somerset zone.

A new addition to the festivities this year will be gift shops in front of Tang Plaza and Ngee Ann City, where shoppers will be able to take home a piece of Orchard Road's annual Christmas light-up.

Limited-edition keepsakes - such as tote bags, T-shirts, keychains and mugs featuring this year's Christmas decorations - will be sold there.

To add to the festive cheer, nightly live-music performances will be held at four areas along the Orchard Road walkway between Scotts Road and Bideford Road.

~News courtesy of Omy~

Little India - Deepavali lightings

photo courtesy of STB

Singapore River

Christmas trees light up Marina Bay

Christmas trees light up Marina Bay for a good cause

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Marina Bay, which has been transformed with Christmas trees, and all for a good cause.

From 9 November till 28 December, 25 decorated trees, known as ChariTrees, will light up the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade every night after 7pm.

They include 17 live trees and eight "eco-trees", which are made with recyclable material by students from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

The trees have been bought and decorated by the Community Chest's corporate partners.

The light up, which is jointly organised by Community Chest and the Urban Redevelopment Authority, have already raised some S$235,000, marking a 78 per cent increase over the amount raised last year.

Members of the public can make a contribution at the Marina Bay City Gallery from 10 November to 28 December 2012.

For every S$10 donated, they will receive a Christmas ornament which can be personalised and hung on the Community Chest ChariTree along the Waterfront Promenade.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Heavy traffic expected at checkpoints

Heavy traffic expected at Woodlands, Tuas checkpoints over Deepavali

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) expects traffic flow through the checkpoints at Woodlands and Tuas to be heavy over the coming weekend ahead of the Deepavali public holiday on November 13.

ICA advises travellers to car-pool or make use of public transport.

In addition, Singaporeans who are issued with the BioPass or are registered with the National Registration Office, are encouraged to use the enhanced Immigration Automated Clearance System (eIACS) lanes at the bus halls for immigration clearance.

Travellers leaving Singapore by the Woodlands or Tuas Checkpoints are advised to check on the traffic situation at the checkpoints before they start their journey.

The various platforms available are TrafficWatch on radio, the Land Transport Authority's One Motoring website, and the traffic information hotline at 68630117.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

New museum wing to feature Fujian artefacts

New museum wing to feature Fujian artefacts

Visitors to the Asian Civilisations Museum can look forward to learning about the "rich and complicated" historical connection between the Fujian province in China and Singapore.

New artefacts related to Fujian culture, as well as more pieces from Singapore's national collection, will be housed in a new $5.5-million wing to be ready by 2015.

Of a $5-million donation from the Hong Leong Foundation, a long-time supporter of the museum, $500,000 will go towards acquiring artefacts related to Fujian culture.

It is the museum's biggest single cash donation to date.

Dr Alan Chong, the museum's director, told reporters at a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday: "We're very keen to show how China relates to the rest of the world through trade, migration, immigration and exchange.

"Fujian, especially, was a homeland for so many immigrants to South-east Asia, not just in Singapore, but also in the countries which are now Malaysia and Indonesia."

The titanium-clad wing - the museum's first extension since it moved to its current premises in Empress Place from Armenian Street in 2003 - will span 869 sq m over three storeys and house three new galleries.

Designed by Singapore architecture firm GreenhilLi, the wing will boast a modern look and feel. For instance, its ground-floor atrium will be "bright and open, and allow people to look in from the street", said Dr Chong.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~

Muscat Street to enhance Kampong Glam

Redeveloped Muscat Street to enhance Kampong Glam

The Muscat Street redevelopment project will be officially opened on Thursday.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K. Shanmugam will co-officiate the launch event with Oman's Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sayyid Badr Hamad Al-Busaidi.

The project is a joint initiative between Singapore and Oman.

The redeveloped Muscat Street will provide a new space for the local community to gather and organise social activities, as well as to enhance Kampong Glam.

At the launch event, there will be dance performances by Omani and local Malay dance troupes.

There will also be an Omani photo exhibition, as well as an Omani henna artist and an Omani calligrapher displaying his wares.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~